Photo-compositor

ABSTRACT

The photo-compositor includes a projection apparatus for projecting selected transparent letter characters from a strip film font on a light-sensitive photographic emulsion carried on a strip of paper. The paper is threaded along the base of the photo-compositor, and extends from a light-tight cassette through an activating station, then across an exposure station wherein the letter characters of the font are projected upon the emulsion surface to expose and develop the letter characters. Subsequently, the exposed portion of the paper is threaded through a station containing a post-developing bath. Indented wells in the base of the photo-compositor form the activating and post-developing stations and the base is of a thermoplastic material vacuum formed in one piece. The photo-compositor also includes projection elevating means for varying the size of the exposed letter characters by varying the distance between the projection apparatus and the base. The interior surfaces of the cassette over the flat sides of the paper strip are canted to flare toward the center of the sides of the cassette so that these interior surfaces only touch the longitudinal edges of the strip.

United States Patent .191 Steinberg et al.

[ June 12, 1973 PHOTO-COMPOSITOR [75] lnventors: Max Steinberg, LakeSuccess;

Arthur Elian, Great Neck; Louis Verrone, Pearl River; Roger Klingenberg, Stony Point, all of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Apex Photoletter Composing, Inc.,

Great Neck, N.Y.

[22] Filed: June 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 50,449

3,115,815 12/1963 Friedel.....

2,160,750 5/1939 Meyer 1,712,854 5/1929 Thonet 2,388,394 11/1945 Drucker 1,166,504 1/1916 Webster 2,231,899 2/1941 Freund 3,011,418 12/1961 Takahama 95/31 Primary Examiner-John M. Horan AttarneyKirschstein, Kirschstein, Ottinger & Frank [57] ABSTRACT The photo-compositor includes a projection apparatus for projecting selected transparent letter characters from a strip film font on a light-sensitive photographic emulsion carried on a strip of paper. The paper is threaded along the base of the photo-compositor, and extends from a light-tight cassette through an activating station, then across an exposure station wherein the letter characters of the font are projected upon the emulsion surface to expose and develop the letter characters. Subsequently, the exposed portion of the paper is threaded through a station containing a postdeveloping bath. indented wells in the base of the photo-compositor form the activating and postdeveloping stations and the base is of a thermoplastic material vacuum formed in one piece. The photocompositor also includes projection elevating means for varying the size of the exposed letter characters by varying the distance between the projection apparatus and the base. The interior surfaces of the cassette over the flat sides of the paper strip are canted to flare toward the center of the sides of the cassette so that these interior surfaces only touch the longitudinal edges of the strip.

9 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures Pmmww 3.738.235

- SHEEI 1 0f 4 i I78 'b FIG l4 INVENTORS MAX STEINBERG ARTHUR ELIAN LOUIS VERRONE BY ROGER KLINGENBERG ATTORNEYS PATENIED 3.738.235

55 32 INVENTORS MAX STEINBERG ARTHUR ELIAN LOUIS VERRONE ROGER KLINGENBERG BY (411 644; \L/

ATTORNEYS Pmemznww 3738.235

INVENTORS MAX STEINBERG ARTHUR ELIAN LOUIS VERRONE ROGER KLINGENBERG ATTORNEYS PHOTO-COMPOSITOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Photographic printing compositors 2. Description of the Prior Art I For some time there has been a need in the printing arts for a composing device which would produce a printed line on a strip of paper wherein a variety of letter sizes and styles could be utilized and furthermore which would not involve the use of set type.

An approach to fulfilling this need was various photoletter composing machines, some of which could be used with interchangeable letter character shapes. Most of these photo-composing devices did not permit varying of the size of the letters on the printed paper strip because they essentially involved contact printing.

The more sophisticated devices wherein the letter character sizes could be varied were extremely complicated, costly to manufacture, and sold at a price which prohibited wide-spread acceptance. Other disadvantages with the complicated photo-letter composing machines included the fact that they were difficult to operate, and, therefore, required skilled personnel.

Some of the previous photo-letter composing machines were only adapted for use with specially designed fonts which did not provide a simple and foolproof method for uniformly spacing successive letters especially when the letters were of varying widths.

Another problem encountered with some of the prior photo-letter composing devices was that they did not adequately provide for automatic developing of the exposed paper strip. An initial activating bath was often required prior to the exposure of the light sensitive emulsion and after exposure a post processing bath was required. Various developing tanks were either carried by or adjacent to the photo-letter composing device for this purpose, and they were unduly bulky, the contents often spilled, and the tanks themselves easily dropped. Furthermore, because the baths within the tanks must be frequently changed, they often spilled over various moving parts of the machine, resulting in eventual malfunction of the compositor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo-compositor of the general character described which, however, is so constructed that it is not subject to any of the foregoing disadvantages.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photo-compositor of the general character described which is simple and rugged in construction, yet can be fabricated by mass production methods at an appreciably lower cost than prior devices designed to serve the same function. g

It is another object of the present invention to pro- ,J,vide a photo-compositor of the general character described in which the various tanks used for treating a strip of photographic emulsion-carrying paper are so constructed and arranged as to greatly reduce the like- A still further object of the present invention is to provide a photo-compositor of the general character described including a font strip having transparent letter characters and means for projecting images of letters on a light sensitive paper strip.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a photo-compositor of the general character described which includes a unitarily formed base having a plurality' ofbath tank wells and an exposure anvil over which a paper strip carrying a light sensitive emulsion is drawn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo-compositor of the general character described wherein a strip of light sensitive paper is threaded through various photographic treating bath tanks and guided therein for extensive emulsion treatment and wherein the paper is further guided over an exposure anvil in alignment with a projection lens and with minimal contact between the light sensitive area of the paper strip and the various components.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a photo-compositor of the general character described which includes an opaque strip film font having transparent graphic symbol-shaped areas therein and a two piece font friction drag guide for accurately positioning a selected symbol of the font strip in alignment with and between a projection lamp and a projection lens with the guide permitting the edgewise insertion of a font film leader through the front of the guide and movement of the font strip through the guide between the entry and exit ends thereof, yet preventing the edgewise withdrawal of the font from the guide in an opposite direction, thus greatly reducing scratching of the font strip except at the terminal ends thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a light-tight cassette for dispensing a light sensitive paper strip from a spiral coil while minimizing contact between the inner walls of the cassette and the sensitive surface of the strip.

Other objects of the present invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly constitutes the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the photocompositor hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a front view of a photo-compositor constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention and showing a font strip threaded through a friction drag guide and between take-up spools at the projection apparatus and additionally showing a cassette projecting above the base of the photo-compositor;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the photo-compositor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the light sensitive paper strip threaded from the cassette and across the base;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and illustrating guide members which assure that the light sensitive paper strip is completely immersed in the baths contained in the tanks, and additionally showing a sprocket wheel which drivingly engages sprocket holes adjacent the sides of the light sensitive paper strip to advance the strip;

FIG. is a sectional view through the cassette, the same being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and illustrating the tapered walls of the cassette which assure minimal frictional contact between the light sensitive paper strip and the cassette;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the mouth of the cassette, the same being taken substantially along the line 5a-5a of FIG. 3 and showing the light sensitive paper strip extending through a light trap at the cassette mouth;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and illustrating a guide member which projects into the post-developing bath;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 7.7 of FIG. 3 and illustrating a portion of a guide member projecting into the activating bath;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 8--8 of FIG. 2 and illustrating a bevel gear assembly for moving the projection apparatus which carries the font strip;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the base taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the bevel gear assembly and additionally showing the sprocket wheel for advancing the paper strip;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line l0-l0 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the projection apparatus, a screw elevator mechanism for moving the same and a centering guide lamp mounted within the base;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary auxiliary view taken through the back of the photo-compositor and further illustrating details of the screw elevator mechanism;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a font strip spool carrying spindle;

FIG. 13 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the font strip friction drag guide and a portion of the font strip held by the guide;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuit employed in the photo-compositor;

FIG. 14a is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the font strip showing successive letter characters and spacing indicia beneath each character;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The photo-compositor of the present invention comprises a uniquely designed monolithic base which includes a receiving opening for a cassette carrying an unexposed spiral coil of light sensitivepaperand a processing track through which the light sensitive paper is drawn, to first activate, then expose and develop and finally fix, a succession of letter character images on the strip; the finished strip of paper has a composed line suitable for subsequent reproduction via conventional duplicating process, e.g. photo offset. It should be understood that the term letter characters as hereinafter used encompasses not only the conventional alphabet symbols, but numerals, mathematic symbols ideographs; hieroglyphs, etc.

The upper surface of the base includes two bath tanks which are, in fact, shallow wells and through which the paper strip is drawn. Intermediate the tanks, the light sensitive paper traverses a flat exposure anvil which is in alignment with the image of the desired letter character projected from an overhead projecting mechanism.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference number 10 denotes a photo-compositor constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention. The photo-compositor includes a base 12 formed in one-piece as by vacuum forming from a thermoplastic sheet so as to constitute a monolithic structure. A post 14 also formed from a thermoplastic sheet in one-piece projects upwardly from the base 12 and a projection apparatus 16 is adjustably positionable along the post 14.

A'font strip 18 comprising an elongate opaque film strip having transparent areas shaped in accordance with various letter characters is included. The font strip 18 is threaded between two spools 20 and is long enough to include several full alphabets of several different styles and other grammatical symbols. Option-v ally, the font strip may be of shorter length and include only a single style of letter characters. The spools 20 are mounted on spindles 22 (see FIG. 12) of noncircular cross section to non-rotatably slidably receive bores of mating configuration on the spools 20 so that when the spindles 22 are turned, the spools 20 will turn. The ends of the spindles 22 are joumalled through openings in the projection apparatus 16. A helical coil spring 24 is held under compression between the wall 26 and collar on the inner end of the spindle 22 to act as a drag against free rotation of the spindle. After each spool 20 has been slipped on a spindle 22, a crank arm 28 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is positioned over the free end 23 of the spindle 22 and suitably held thereon as by a set screw. The projection apparatus 16 projects an image of the letter characters upon a light sensitive paper strip, and may adjustably vary the size of the projected characters as well as the light intensity in a manner to be subsequently described.

Attention is now directed to the base 12 which carries a cassette 30 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 5a). The cassette 30 houses a spiral coil or strip of light sensitive paper 32. The light sensitive, i.e., the upper, surface of the paper strip 32 includes a photographic lightsensitive emulsion and the rear surface of the paper strip is coated with a varnish to prevent the absorption of moisture when the strip is drawn through the various liquid baths. It should also be noted that the paper strip riphery of the annulus (essentially through a vertical" plane longitudinally bisecting the annulus) to engage a bottom plate 40 of the base 12. The bottom of the web 38 includes two vertical sockets 41 which are engaged by bullet-nosed cassette positioning pins projecting upwardly from the bottom plate 40.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 5 where it can be observed that the external circumferential walls 42 of the annulus 35 are tapered from a maximum circumferential diameter at the center of 'the cassette to a minimum diameter at the side walls of the annulus 35. It can also be observed that the cassette is formed of two hollow shell halves with a light seal 44 at their juncture seam. The walls 42 are tapered from the light seal 44 toward the side walls of the annulus. The angle of taper is in the order of 5 (exaggerated for the purpose of illustration) and assures that the emulsion side of the paper strip 32 will only contact the walls 42 at its edges (adjacent the sprocket holes). This will prevent scratching of the emulsion side of the paper.

The shoulder walls 46 of the annulus facing the hub 36 are oppositely tapered to form a sloped shoulder upon which the paper strip is coiled. This eliminates the necessity of a separate spool. Because of the corresponding tapers of the walls 42 and 46 there is minimal contact between the paper strip 32 and the walls of the cassette 30 and thus minimal frictional drag.

The cassette 30 further provides a light seal or trap at its mouth 48 through which the paper strip 32 is drawn (see FIG. 5a). The light seal is formed of opposed mating, resilient, yet soft, pads 50 of light impervious material. The pads 50 are positioned within indentations at the mouth of the cassette. A suitable material of which the pads may be constructed is felt or a cellular polyurethane. Because of the use of the light seal, the paper strip is immediately available for exposure, yet the cassette can be easily carried about in illuminated areas without the danger of fogging. Furthermore, the light seal eliminates the necessity for a long leader of exposed paper which is common with the present apparatus used for dispensing light sensitive paper strips.

The cassette 30 is inserted through an opening 52 in the top of the base 12. The opening 52 is slightly offset with respect to the pilot pins so that the cassette is first partially inserted and then moved in the direction of paper strip movement, then vertically downward. The sockets 41 will be first aligned with, and then seated on the cassette positioning pins. The paper strip is then threaded from the mouth 48 of the cassette 30 through an activating tank 54 which is a depression in the top of the base 12 and hence in one piece therewith.

The activating tank 54 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) is partially filled with a photographic activating bath 55 and the paper strip 32 is submerged in the bath 55 by a hollow wedge-shaped guide 56. The walls of the guide 56 are perforated by openings 58 so that the activating bath enters the interior of the hollow guide. This permits a maximum volume of activator to be used within the tank and thus prolongs the useful life of the developer.

The surface of the guide member which faces the paper strip 32 includes opposed mating steps 60 (see FIG. 7) in the side walls of the guide member, which steps are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the paper strip so that the paper strip 32 will engage and contact the guide member only along narrow lateral zones in the region of the sprocket holes 34 and clear of the letter character image. The narrow lateral zones will ride along a flat portion of the steps 60. Intermediate the opposed steps 60, the surface of the guide member is recessed to prevent contact between the emulsion surface of the paper strip 32 and the guidemember 56. The steps 60 thus assure maximum activator bath contact with the emulsion of the paper as well as prevent the scratching of the emulsion surface.

The guide member 56 includes a wiper 62 which extends toward the paper egress end of the tank 54 and which is designed to wipe excess liquid from the paper which is drawn up from the bath proper exposure thereof. The wiper is constructed of a soft resilient liquid impervious material such as natural or synthetic rubber, and the slight pressure which the wiper 62 exerts upon the paper strip 32 may be adjustably varied by sliding the guide member 56 relative to the tank. For this purpose, the upper surface of the guide member 56 includes elongate mounting slots 64 through which mounting screws 66 extend into the top of base 12.

From the activating tank the paper strip 32 is drawn across a flat anvil surface 70 and between parallel anvil guides 72, 74 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 10). The anvil guides 72, 74 include opposed channels 78, which extend the length of the guides and into their bottoms and the paper strip 32 extends over the anvil 70 and the side edges of the strip 32 are guided in the channels.

Referring now to the projection apparatus 16 which casts an image of the selected letter characters on the surface of the anvil 70, it can be observed that the projection apparatus 16 includes a high intensity, relatively low voltage (e.g. 24 volts), incandescent projection bulb 82 which is mounted within a light projecting compartment 84.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 10 it can be seen that the light projection compartment 84 includes a door at its front through which the projection bulb may be replaced. Positioned beneath the projection bulb is a condenser 86 comprising an array of convex lenses which concentrate and project light from the lamp 82 through an opening 88 in the bottom of the light projecting compartment 84.

A safe light shutter 90 is mounted within the light projecting compartment 91 intermediate the condenser and the opening 88. The shutter 90 is constructed of a pellucid colored panel, e.g. red, which transmits light rays of a specific wave length which will not photographically activate the light sensitized emulsion on the paper strip 32, yet is visible. The use of the safe light shutter permits the positioning of light images in the shape of letter characters on the paper strip 32 and the focusing of the projection apparatus without exposure of the light sensitive emulsion. The shutter 90 is pivotally mounted on the bottom of the light projecting compartment 84 and is actuated through the use of a solenoid 92. The solenoid plunger 91 engages a link 93 both ends of which are pivotally connected, one end to a rotatably mounted lever 95 and the other end to the plunger 91. The end of the lever 95 opposite the link 93 is fixed to the shutter 90 so that the shutter 90 swings away from the opening 88 when the solenoid 90 pulls in the plunger 91. A return spring 97 urges the shutter to its idle position blocking the opening 88.

A font strip friction drag guide 94 is positioned beneath the opening 88 and in alignment therewith. The guide 94 maintains the font 18 in proper alignment beneath the projection compartment 91 for projection of the desired letter characters. The guide 94 is constructed of upper 96 and lower 98 interengagedsections (see FIG. 13). The lower section 98 is mounted on the projection apparatus and the upper section 96 is secured to the lower section 98 as by bolts 99. The two sections are formed of a resilient material to captively retain the font film strip therebetween. The structure of the guide 94 prevents the removal of the font strip from the guide 94 without completely winding the font strip about one of its spools until the end of the film passes through the guide 94. The guide 94 does permit, however, the insertion of a leader of a spooled font strip through the front of the guide 94 and between the upper and lower sections 96, 98. For this purpose, the lower section 98 includes a pair of vertical steps 95, 100 upon which the side edges of the font strip 18 ride and a recessed broad flat channel 101 between parallel ledges 103, 105 which prevent scratching of the font strip 18 because the film rides over the channel 101, supported by the ledges 103, 105. It should also be noted that the vertical step 95 is extended upwardly to prevent removal of the film strip through the front portion of the guide 94. The top portion 96 of the guide includes two projecting smooth ribs 102 which normally rest on the ledges 103, 105 when the font strip 18 is not within the guide 94. When the font strip 18 is seated within the guide 94 the ribs 102 serve to lightly press the edge zones of the strip 18 against the ledges 103, 105 to act as a pressure pad holding the strip 18 flat for accurate projection and providing a light frictional drag that prevents accidental displacement of the strip when it is in a desired position.

It can be seen that the leaderportion of the font strip 18 may he slipped between the guide 94 sections 96 and 98 at the front of the guide 94 by spreading the sections 96, 98 slightly apart which is automatically achieved when the film leader is inserted edgewise between the clamp sections 96, 98. The automatic spreading is due to the bevelled free edge of the upper section 96 resting on the step 95. This bevelled free edge is engaged by the edge of the font strip leader and cams the sections 96, 98 apart. Withdrawal of the font film strip 18 in a similar manner will be precluded by the abutment of the opposite edge of thefont strip 18 against the extended vertical wall 95. In order to enable the font strip 18 images to be projected, the upper 96 and lower 98 sections of the clamp include aligned rectangular openings on the optical axis through which light may pass.

A projection lens 104 is mounted beneath the guide 94 to project the letter character images carried on the font strip. The lens 104 is a conventional projection composite lens comprising a plurality of optically aligned lenses within a cylindrical lens casing 105. The lens casing includes grooved helical convolutions along its exterior surface which are engaged by a springloaded ball projecting into the groove from a vertically adjustable lens carrier 106 within which the projection lens 104 is housed. By rotating the projection lens 104 relative to the lens carrier 106, the engagement between the ball and the spiral convolutions vertically moves the lens 104 relative to the carrier 106 to effect a fine focus adjustment.

A coarse focus adjustment of the projection lens relative to the anvil 70 is effected through a rack and pinion drive between the lens carrier 106 and a vertical front wall 108 which is functionally unitary with the light projecting compartment 84. Optical alignment between the light projecting compartment 84, the guide 94 and the projection lens 104 is obtained by two alignment rods which extend vertically downward from and are fixed to the rear of the projecting compartment 84. The rods 115 are slidably engaged in openings 117 in an overhanging ledge projecting rearwardly from the lens carrier 106. A rack 110 is affixed to the front wall of the lens carrier 106, being engaged by a pinion 112 which is rotatably mounted on the wall 108 and is turned manually by a knob 114.

It can be observed from FIG. 10 that the image of the selected letter character projected toward the anvil 70 is in fact projected onto the emulsion surface of the paper strip 32. It should be additionally noted that the size of the letter characters which are projected onto the paper strip 32 may be varied by movement of the entire projection apparatus 16 relative to the anvil surface. This is accomplished through an elevation apparatus.

The elevation apparatus includes a male threaded feed shaft 116 which is vertically positioned and journalled (see FIGS. 9, l0 and 11) for rotation about its longitudinal axis within the post 14 of the photocompositor behind the front wall 118 thereof. The feed shaft 116 is rotated by the photo-compositor operator by turning an elevation knob 120 centrally positioned on the front wall of the base 12. The knob 120 is fixed to a shaft 122 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which extends toward the rear of the base and terminates at a bevel gear 124 which engages a mating bevel gear 126 at the lower end of the feed shaft 116.

A rider 128 projects from the light projecting compartment through a slot 129 in the front wall 1 18 of the post 14. The rider 128 includes a central tapped bore 130 which is threadedly engaged by the feed shaft 116. There is additionally included on the rider 128 a plurality of openings 132 which slidingly engage two vertical guide rods 134 to assure that the projection apparatus 16 maintains a horizontal orientation and is in optical alignment in all positions. It can now be observed that by turning the knob 120 the feeder shaft 116 is caused to rotate and thus the rider 128 and the projection apparatus will move vertically up or down the post 14.

After the size of the letter characters projected on the photographic paper strip 32 has been set by rotating the knob 120, the images of the letter characters are focused first coarsely and then finely.

To compose a line of letter characters on the paper strip 32, it is desirable to center the projected letter characters on the optical axis of the projection system.

'This is accomplished by aligning the projection of a centering indicium with a safe light centering guide slit 146 which is visible at the center of the anvil 70. The safe light centering apparatus includes a bulb 136 (see FIG. 10) which projects a beam of light through an opening 138 in the top of the base 12 and through a safe light translucent sheet 140 (preferably of the same material of which the shutter is constructed). The locating beam is visible at the top of the base 12 (at the center of the anvil 70 and appears as a fine slit 146 in the anvil guide 72. The font strip 18 includes centering indicia 19 lying in a line passing through the geometric center of each letter character and positioned directly above each letter character (see FIG. 14a). In use, the font strip 18 is slid along the guide 94 until the image of the centering indicium 19 associated with the selected letter character is aligned with the slit 146.

In FIG. there is shown an exposed and developed composed word AIM" on a portion of the paper strip 32. It will be noted that there are positioning dots 150 beneath and between the successive developed letters of the word AIM. In fact, each corresponding letter character of the font strip 18 includes two positioning dot indicia 151 (see FIG. 14a), one on each side of and beneath each letter character.

To compose the word AIM for instance, first the safe light image of the letter A, the two dot indicia and the centering indicium are projected through the safe light shutter 90 with the image of the centering indicium being cast on the anvil guide 72. The image of the letter A is centered by aligning the image of the centering indicium with the slit 146, i.e., moving the font strip 18 until the centered positioning is obtained. Then the proper exposure is determined and the shutter is opened for the required length of exposure time. After the image of the letter A and the two positioning dot indicia 151 have been exposed on the paper 32, they develop and the next letter I may be exposed.

To expose the next letter, the safe light image of the letter I is centered on the optical axis of aligning the image of the centering indicium associated with the letter character and the centering guide slit 146. The image of the dot indicia which appears on the paper strip through the closed safe light shutter 90 on the left side of the safe light image of the letter I is aligned to project precisely over the developed dot indicia on the right side of the developed letter A. This is accomplished by advancing the paper strip 32 and its developed image of the letter A toward the left of the anvil 70. Subsequently, the image of the letter I and its corresponding dot indicia are exposed and developed on the paper strip.

Thereafter, the letter M is positioned in the guide 94, centered on the optical axis and the safe light image thereof projected to the paper strip 32. The safe light image of the dot indicia 150 to the left of the safe light image of the letter M is then aligned with the developed dot indicia to the right of the developed letter I by advancing the paper strip 32 and then the image of the letter M and its corresponding indicia are exposed. Thus, the complete word is composed on the paper strip 32 with proper spacing between letters of varying widths. It will be appreciated that the centering indicia are not projected on the paper strip 32 but on the anvil guide. Furthermore, the developed dot indicia 150 appear in a marginal zone of the paper strip and not in the immediate vicinity of the developed letter characters. The developed dot indicia may be easily cut off the photo-composed words on the paper strip 32 during or before multiple printing.

As was previously mentioned, the paper strip 32 is advanced over the anvil surface 70. To advance the paper strip, a pair of sprocket wheels 152 (see FIGS. 4 and 9) mounted on a rotatable shaft 154 is provided within the base 12. The shaft 154 is journalled for rotation within the base 12 and beneath the top thereof. A manually manipulatable knob 156 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) at the forward end of the shaft 154 is positioned in front of the front wall 158 of the base 12. The sprocket wheels project through slots 153 in the top of the base 12 into the channels 78 and 80 of the anvil guides 72, 74. Manual turning of the knob rotates the sprocket wheels 152 which engage the sprocket holes 34 to advance the paper strip 32. The sprockets on the sprocket wheels 152 project above the top of the base 12 and into the sprocket holes 34 of the paper strip 32.

After leaving the anvil where letter characters are visibly formed by exposure and in situ development, the paper strip is led through a post-developing tank (see FIGS. 3 and 4) to stop-fix the strip on which the developed letter characters and dot indicia can now be seen. It should be noted that exposure is automatically followed by development of the images because the paper strip 32 has previously been drawn through the activating bath prior to exposure. The paper strip 32 is led through the post-developing bath tank 160. The tank 160 is positioned after the sprocket wheels, 152; in the direction of travel of the paper strip, and includes a post-developing, i.e., a stabilizing, e.g. a stopfix, bath 161. The bath tank 160 is constructed similarly to the activator bath tank 54 in that it comprises a well unitary with the one-piece monolithic base 12 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). It should be noted that there are a plurality of ridges 162 which project upwardly from the bottom of the postdeveloping bath tank 160 and are oriented so that their longitudinal axes run parallel to the path of travel of the paper strip. These ridges 162 serve to assure adequate distribution and agitation of the post-developing bath 161 around the paper strip portion immersed in said bath.

A guide member 164 overlies the tank 160. The guide member 164 includes a laterally projecting flange 166 which rests upon the top surface of the base 12 adjacent the post-developing bath tank 160 and a dished central portion which extends deep into the postdeveloping bath tank 160. A plurality of openings 168 are formed in the dished central portion of the guide 164 to permit the entrance of the post-developing bath 161 into the interior of the guide member 164. This allows a larger volume of bath 161 to be included in the tank 160 than had the guide member displaced its total volume by not including the openings 168. The guide member 164 further includes a plurality of downwardly projecting ridges 170 which are in alignment with the upwardly projecting ridges 162 formed in the tank 160. The paper strip '32 is drawn through the tank 160 between ridges 162 of the tank and the ridges 170 of the guide member 164. This arrangement assures that the paper strip will not become tangled or stray from its threaded path along the upper surface of the base 12. The provision of the ridges 170 also assures adequate distribution of the post-developing bath 161 over the emulsion surface of the paper strip 32.

The portion of the paper strip which extends from the tank 160 leads through an opening 171 in the rear of the flange 166 and after the composed words or word have been exposed, developed and their images fixed on the paper strip 32, the portion of the strip having the composed line is cut or torn from the remainder. The portion of the strip 32 having the composed line is then ready for use in multiple printing.

The siae of the composed line of letters, that is the physical size of each letter character, of a series of letter characters may be varied by adjusting the elevation of the projection apparatus 16 relative to the anvil surface 70. For each specific type of photographic paper, a certain quantity of light is necessary for proper exposure. The photo-compositor 10 permits the operator to adjust either the time duration of exposure or the bulb intensity of the light at the light source, so that no matter what the distance is between the light source and the paper strip 32 (which affects the intensity of the projected letter character images) proper exposure of the emulsion surface will be obtained.

Illustrated in FIG. 14 is a simplified schematic dia gram of the electric circuit included in the photocompositor. The circuit employs an on/off switch 171 which selectively controls the line voltage input to a step down transformer 172 which is utilized to energize the various components of the photo-compositor. From the secondary coil winding of the transformer 172, the various lamps and the shutter mechanism is powered.

The centering bulb 136 is connected to the secondary transformer winding along with the solenoid 92 which operates the shutter 90. The solenoid 92 is in series circuit with a timer switch 178 (normally open). The projection bulb 82 is connected to the secondary winding in series circuit with a rheostat 174 which varies the bulb intensity.

It will be appreciated that the photo-compositor should be operated in a darkroom where the only avail able light is of a wave length to which the actinically sensitive emulsion on the paper strip is insensitive. Since the shutter 90 is a safe light shutter, the size of the letter image projected on the emulsion of the paper strip 32 positioned over the anvil surface may be adjusted and focused and is visible to the naked eye although it will not produce an exposure of the emulsion surface.

Before or after the first letter image is centered in a manner previously described, the letter character size is adjusted by turning the height elevation adjustment knob 120, after which the image of the projected letter is focused by the adjustment of the coarse focusing knob 114; subsequently a fine focus is achieved by rotation of the projection lens casing 105 within the lens carrier 106. The proper exposure time-bulb intensity combination for the distance of the projection apparatus 16 from the paper strip 32 is determined, and the proper combination of exposure time-bulb intensity is adjusted so that the letter image will be properly exposed on the emulsion surface.

The proper exposure time and bulb intensity settings for a specific elevation of the projection apparatus 16 and hence for a specific letter character image intensity is determined by observing an exposure chart 180 which is mounted on the front wall 118 of the post 14. An arrow 182 carried on the projection apparatus 16 partially overlies the chart and indicates the proper exposure value for the specific elevation of the projecton apparatus 16. To set the proper combination, the operator adjusts the exposure timer 178 by rotating the timer dial 179 to the desired time duration and/or the bulb intensity by rotating the rheostat dial 175.

With the use of this photo-compositor, an unskilled operator may easily print an evenly spaced and properly exposed series of letters forming a composed line which is then suitable for further use in multiple printing'operations.

While it will be appreciated that the photographic emulsion and the various photographic baths utilized may be selected from any of the presently available well known stock photographic supplies, it should be noted that a specific combination which has produced effective results is the use of a silver halide emulsion having hydroquinone with a sulfite preservative and a pH alkalizing agent in the activator bath and with the post-developing bath including an acid thiocyanate (approximate pH 4) stabilizer. Additionally, the use of separate stop and fix baths in lieu of the single postdeveloping bath is contemplated. If separate stop and fix baths are utilized they would be carried in two separate tanks similar in structure to the post-developing tank.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided a photocompositor which achieves the various objects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A photo-compositor for printing a composed line of letter characters on a light sensitive strip, said photocompositor comprising a base having a one piece upper surface, said upper surface including a substantially flat smooth portion, said photo-compositor further including projection means for projecting a beam of light onto said substantially flat smooth portion, means mounting said projection means for adjustable vertical movement of said projection means overlying the fiat smooth portion of the upper surface, said projection means including a light source, a projection lens and means for selectively positioning an elongate font strip intermediate said light source and said lens, said base further including means for advancing a light sensitive strip over said substantially flat smooth portion, a plurality of photographic processing stations on said upper surface, said stations including depressed areas along the upper surface of said base, meansfor guiding the light sensitive strip over the substantially flat smooth portion and into each of the depressed areas so that the light sensitive stripwill be immersed in the baths carried in the depressed areas, said projection means including means for directing selected letter character images onto the portion of the light sensitive strip overlying said substantially flat smooth portion whereby the light sensitive strip is passed over said substantially flat smooth portion so that a selected letter character image may be projected thereon with the light sensitive strip then progressively passing into the depressed areas so as to be immersed in each bath contained in each area. 7

2. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the base is constructed of thermoplastic material.

3. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein means to hold the strip submerged in'the process stations is included, said last mentioned means including guide members, the guide members having portions projecting into the depressed areas.

4. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein means forming openings in the guide members are included, the baths carried in the depressed areas being only partially displaced by the guide members.

-5. A photo-compositor constructed in accordanc with claim 3 wherein means slidably mounting one of the guide members on the upper surface of the base is included, the one guide member including a wiper blade, said wiper blade being positionable to wipe excess liquid from the light sensitive strip which is drawn up from the bath, while the strip is being withdrawn from the associated process station.

6. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for positioning the elongate font strip includes a friction drag guide having upper and lower sections, means forming aligned openings in said sections whereby the image of a selected letter character may be cast from the font strip into the projection lens, one of the sections including spaced parallel vertical steps extending along the length thereof, the step adjacent the forward edge of the one section being of a length sufficient to prevent edgewise withdrawal of the font strip, the forward edge of the other section being bevelled to permit the sections to spread apart when a font strip leader is inserted edgewise between the sections.

7. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein a font strip is included, said font strip being formed of opaque film strip, said font strip having a plurality of pellucid letter characters therein, the font strip including means for controlling the spacing of successive letter character images on the light sensitive strip, said spacing control means comprising pellucid indicia positioned in the font strip in a zone having a different elevation than the letter characters, two of said indicia being associated with each letter character, said associated indicia being symmetrically disposed with respect to a line passing through the center of the letter character and being laterally spaced from the letter character, whereby successive letters on the light sensitive strip may be spaced by registering the spacing indicium positioned behind a previously exposed letter character developed on the light sensitive strip with the projected indicium positioned forwardly of a subsequent letter character prior to exposure of the subsequent letter character on the light sensitive strip.

8. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein safe-light means for centering a projected letter character image is provided, said means comprising a light source, said last mentioned light source being mounted beneath the upper surface of the base, and a light aperture formed in the upper surface of the base in alignment with the last mentioned light source.

9. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light source includes a bulb, the photo-compositor further including means for varying the intensity of said bulb, the projection apparatus further includes a safe light shutter positioned intermediate the light source and the projection lens, and means for selectively moving the shutter from an idle position blocking the optical axis of the projection apparatus to an actuated position wherein the light shutter is clear of the optical axis. 

1. A photo-compositor for printing a composed line of letter characters on a light sensitive strip, said photo-compositor comprising a base having a one piece upper surface, said upper surface including a substantially flat smooth portion, said photo-compositor further including projection means for projecting a beam of light onto said substantially flat smooth portion, means mounting said projection means for adjustable vertical movement of said projection means overlying the flat smooth portion of the upper surface, said projection means including a light source, a projection lens and means for selectively positioning an elongate font strip intermediate said light source and said lens, said base further including means for advancing a light sensitive strip over said substantially flat smooth portion, a plurality of photographic processing stations on said upper surface, said stations including depressed areas along the upper surface of said base, means for guiding the light sensitive strip over the substantially flat smooth portion and into each of the depressed areas so that the light sensitive strip will be immersed in the baths carried in the depressed areas, said projection means including means for directing selected letter character images onto the portion of the light sensitive strip overlying said substantially flat smooth portion whereby the light sensitive strip is passed over said substantially flat smooth portion so that a selected letter character image may be projected thereon with the light sensitive strip then progressively passing into the depressed areas so as to be immersed in each bath contained in each area.
 2. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the base is constructed of thermoplastic material.
 3. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein means to hold the strip submerged in the process stations is included, said last mentioned means including guide members, the guide members having portions projecting into the depressed areas.
 4. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein means forming openings in the guide members are included, the baths carried in the depressed areas being only partially displaced by the guide members.
 5. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein means slidably mounting one of the guide members on the upper surface of the base is included, the one guide member including a wiper blade, said wiper blade being positionable to wipe excess liquid from the light sensitive strip which is drawn up from the bath, while the strip is being withdrawn from the associated process station.
 6. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for positioning the elongate font strip includes a friction drag guide having upper and lower sections, means forming aligned openings in said sections whereby the image of a selected letter character may be cast from the font strip into the projection lens, one of the sections including spaced parallel vertical steps extending along the length thereof, the step adjacent the forward edge of the one section being of a length sufficient to prevent edgewise withdrawal of the font strip, the forward edge of the other section being bevelled to permit the sections to spread apart when a font strip leader is inserted edgewise between the sections.
 7. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein a font strip is included, said font strip being formed of opaque film strip, said font strip having a plurality of pellucid letter characters therein, the font strip including means for controlling the spacing of successive letter character images on the light sensitive strip, said spacing control means comprising pellucid indicia positioned in the font strip in a zone having a different elevation than the letter characters, two of said indicia being associated with each letter character, said associated indicia being symmetrically disposed with respect to a line passing through the center of the letter character and being laterally spaced from the letter character, whereby successive letters on the light sensitive strip may be spaced by registering the spacing indicium positioned behind a previously exposed letter character developed on the light sensitive strip with the projected indicium positioned forwardly of a subsequent letter character prior to exposure of the subsequent letter character on the light sensitive strip.
 8. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein safe-light means for centering a projected letter character image is provided, said means comprising a light source, said last mentioned light source being mounted beneath the upper surface of the base, and a light aperture formed in the upper surface of the base in alignment with the last mentioned light source.
 9. A photo-compositor constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light source includes a bulb, the photo-compositor further including means for varying the intensity of said bulb, the projection apparatus further includes a safe light shutter positioned intermediate the light source and the projection lens, and means for selectively moving the shutter from an idle position blocking the optical axis of the projection apparatus to an actuated position wherein the light shutter is clear of the optical axis. 